Reports: Canadian lacrosse legend John Tavares to retire at age 46

Canadian box lacrosse legend John Tavares will announce his retirement Wednesday.

Canadian box lacrosse legend John Tavares will announce his retirement Wednesday, WKBW in Buffalo reports. TSN hockey reporter Bob McKenzie confirmed WKBW’s report. 

Tavares, 46, is the uncle of New York Islanders center John Tavares. He has played for the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits since their inception in 1992. 

Tavares hold the NLL records for most goals, assists and total points in a career. He has nearly 400 more points than the man in second place. He set the record for career points in 2007 and just kept adding to it. 

Tavares spent his entire career playing indoor “box” lacrosse, a 6-on-6 variation of the 10-on-10 outdoor game more commonly played in the United States. Because NLL salaries are low, Tavares also works as a high school math teacher in Mississauga, Ont.

“This is my bread and butter,” Tavares told The New York Times in 2013. “I love teaching. Long after I’m done playing lacrosse, I’ll be a teacher. This is my career.”

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- Dan Gartland